By Michael Copley, Staff Writer
mcopley@powhatantoday.com

Two Powhatan men who returned home recently from military service felt like they owed their employers and coworkers a thank you, for the support they were given during deployment and for picking up the slack, so to speak, while they were gone.

Jamie Timberlake, Powhatan’s Commissioner of Revenue, and David Hunt, a Powhatan Sheriff’s Deputy, nominated their employers, the Commissioner of Revenue’s Office and Sheriff Greg Neal respectively, for the Patriot Award, an honor given to employers for exceptional support of employees who serve in the military.

The award, given by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve —  a Department of Defense volunteer agency — “is a prestigious honor because the guard or reserve member felt it appropriate to publicly recognize their employer for their support and cooperation,” said Barry Vanlandingham, an ESGR representative.

Sheriff Neal said while the award bears his name, “It was everyone in the [sheriff’s] office who allowed all the support to happen.”

Deputy Hunt said the treatment he was shown up to and during deployment was “typical” of the Sheriff’s Department.

Cheryl Jessee accepted the award on behalf of the entire Commissioner of Revenue’s Office and Timberlake said his coworkers have “always been like family.”